update - jay's cough/breathing issues

claret09

claret09

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some of you might remember that about three months ago i posted looking for advice about jay's cough/breathing issues and i thought i would give you an update in the hope that it might help other people and their horses suffering from something similar.

jay has had a cough on and off for several years - it started when we were at a yard with a dusty indoor school - intermittent cough - i often used to steam his hay - we made a steamer.

he then struggled a bit in the spring to clear his cough. this year was particularly bad - he is 28 and in work. i tried 2 tubs of ventapulmin - didn't make much difference. i then started wetting his hay - again not much difference. opened the back of his stable up - definitely improved air flow, gradually changed shavings over to dust extracted (natural flake) and he has also had a blue inhaler - still using and a purple/brown prevent inhaler. he is also out most of the day.

about two months ago he came in covered in bites and we started to think about using hayfever medicine - finally we started to make a difference to his breathing -prior to this he was coughing and farting constantly - couldn't actually do more than ride in walk as coughing so much - felt cruel.

started him on 5 tablets morning and night (in water in a syringe) - started to make a difference - not coughing as much. i then upped it to 8 night and morning - definitely started to see an improvement. i then upped it again to 10 night and morning. omg the difference is incredible - he has stopped coughing - might have one when asked to trot. i have now upped his work to 30 mins per day - walk and trot - just starting to do a little bit of canter work, he is also happy to stay out all day as bugs not affecting him so much. his sweetich is also massively better.

i can't emphasise enough how much difference it has made to him . it might not work for every horse but i can't believe the difference. i have been buying antihistamines on line through amazon - 12 months supply lasts about 18 days but at £8.00 it's the best solution i have ever come across and far cheaper than any prescription meds from the vet. i just wanted to pass on my experience in the hope that it might be of use to someone else
 
Interesting! Rocky’s had something similar since I’ve had him but vets are reluctant to start steroids, as am I. I might give this a go. What’s the active ingredient in the ones you are buying?
 
The Piriton equivalents did nothing for my cob, but switching to loratadine and a full body fly rug has seen a big improvement. One 10mg tablet per 100kg bodyweight, so much lower dosing. Yesterday, I didn't give him a dose as the weather was so much cooler, and the flowers are starting to go over. His breathing was verging on heaves by evening, so back to the tablets today. Pollen, fly bites and ivermectin are main triggers for my cob.
 
Highmileagecob said:
The Piriton equivalents did nothing for my cob, but switching to loratadine and a full body fly rug has seen a big improvement. One 10mg tablet per 100kg bodyweight, so much lower dosing. Yesterday, I didn't give him a dose as the weather was so much cooler, and the flowers are starting to go over. His breathing was verging on heaves by evening, so back to the tablets today. Pollen, fly bites and ivermectin are main triggers for my cob.
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really interesting isn't it. i had even thought about antihistamines until a friend suggested them. i won't be taking him off them anytime soon
 
Just out of interest, as a generalisation, does the coughing start in older/veteran horses? My cob was 17 when the cough and heaves first started, and I put it down to him putting too much weight on. I went down the route of veterinary visits, ventipulmin, inhalers, steroids, laminitis, none of which made any significant difference. After two years, the vet said it is what it is, and look to manage symptoms and prevent an attack rather than try and treat, because we are not getting anywhere. Old Dobbin then moved to the top of the yard in an isolation stable with a small outdoor space attached for winter, and 24/7 turn out in the summer. Daily turn out with the others for a few hours a day in winter too. Hay was a big trigger, so switched to haylage. At that point I started antihistamines during summer turnout, and touch wood, it has been largely controlled. Very hot, humid days are his worst times, but I don't involve the vet unless he is clearly unhappy. It resolves itself once the weather breaks.
 
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